More than a dozen reporters surrounded Sebastian, microphones and recorders were all stretched out to Sebastian's mouth, and the camera flashes kept flashing.
"Coach Sebastian, according to the doping scandal that was exposed not long ago, you have been using banned drugs for athletes. Is it true?"
"Coach Sebastian, please respond with a few words about the doping scandal!"
"Coach Sebastian, as the head coach of the U.S. track and field team, you have been involved in the largest doping scandal in U.S. history. What are your thoughts now?"
The reporters' questions were like bombers, making Sebastian unable to find the north, south, east, and west.
Sebastian wanted to forcefully leave, but he was completely surrounded. He had to stop and said: "I have responded before, I have never used banned drugs for my athletes, and I have never done so in the past. Yes, not now, not ever!"
"Then you are the first on the list of coaches involved in the doping scandal. How do you explain it?" the reporter immediately asked.
"That is a rumor and a slander! I have now found a lawyer, and I want to sue that investigative reporter for defamation! His false investigative report has ruined my reputation!" Sebastian shouted.
Another reporter next to him said: "Among the coaches involved in that list, three have admitted to using banned drugs on athletes, and more than ten of the athletes involved have admitted to using banned drugs. That investigation on banned drugs The report doesn’t look like it’s fake.”
"That list involves nearly a thousand people and hundreds of banned drugs. What does it mean that only a few people admit it? It means nothing at all. If I list all the athletes in the world, I will definitely find a few. A doping athlete," Sebastian argued.
"Coach Sebastian, according to reliable information, Mr. Lewis, the chairman of the International Anti-Doping Organization, has come to the United States and has brought the latest banned drug testing technology. They will check the records of all athletes involved on the list. Urine samples are tested for testing, including several athletes you coach. Are you worried that they will be found to have used illegal drugs?" Another reporter asked.
"Of course I'm not worried, because I have never used banned drugs for athletes." Sebastian paused, then asked: "What you just said, Mr. Lewis, the International Anti-Doping Chairman, came to the United States. When did it happen? Why didn’t I know?”
"Mr. Lewis's trip is confidential. It was not until this morning that it was revealed that he has been here for three days, and during these three days, hundreds of athlete urine samples have been tested. ." The reporter replied.
Sebastian made a look of realization, but inside he was extremely panicked.
When the doping scandal was exposed, Sebastian was a relatively big name among the coaches involved, and he was also the new head coach of the U.S. track and field team. Naturally, he attracted everyone's attention, and Sebastian was in the first place. Time has denied that it has doped athletes.
Of course Sebastian will not admit it. He has finally become the head coach of this US team and has just reached the peak of his life. If he admits to using banned drugs for athletes, his reputation will be ruined.
What's more important is that Sebastian has a sense of luck. He feels that as long as he refuses to admit his guilt, others will have nothing to do with him.
Many people who have made mistakes or committed crimes are like this. Of course, their first thought is not to admit their mistakes, but to find ways to cover up their mistakes, or even use another mistake to cover it up. As a result, mistakes are added to mistakes, leading to A big disaster.
…
Sebastian found a place where no one was, took out his mobile phone, and dialed Franklin's number.
"Professor Franklin, it's me, Sebastian." Sebastian said.
"Why are you calling me at this time? Don't you know that in this situation, it's better for us not to contact each other? The FBI has already begun investigating the doping scandal. Maybe our phone calls are being monitored by the FBI." Franklin Franklin said angrily.
"A high-end laboratory like yours should have measures to prevent eavesdropping." Sebastian did not dwell on this matter, but said quickly: "Let me make a long story short, I have something to confirm with you. Wait, is it true that the products you provide me cannot be detected by anti-doping organizations?”
"Did you hear something?" Franklin asked.
Sebastian lowered his voice and said, "The chairman of the International Anti-Doping Organization came to the United States three days ago, and he also brought new doping testing technology. I was worried about the products you provided me. It will be detected by them.”
Franklin on the other end of the phone took a breath, and then said: "I'm not sure whether they can detect it."
"Not sure? What do you mean? That's not what you said when you gave me that thing! You told me that your technology is at least two years ahead of the International Anti-Doping Organization, and they will never be able to detect it. This is You must have forgotten your original words." Sebastian's voice was a little anxious.
"I did say those words, but only if the International Anti-Doping Organization does not know our core secrets. But it is different now, they have our core secrets." Franklin said.
"What core secret?" Sebastian asked.
"It's those molecular formulas! The investigation report published the molecular formulas of twenty-seven steroid derivatives, two of which are exactly what we used. As long as a laboratory with some strength knows the molecular formula, Even if it cannot be copied, it can still be detected." Franklin explained.
"In other words, the International Anti-Doping Organization will definitely be able to find those things!" Sebastian's face suddenly turned pale, and he had realized the seriousness of the matter.
The next moment, Sebastian roared angrily: "What are your confidentiality measures? That is your core secret. How could it be easily obtained by that investigative reporter?"
"It wasn't leaked from us. It's all Blatche's fault. The investigative reporter stole those things from Blatche's company." Franklin's voice was also very unkind.
"Bletch, that 'Father of Prohormone'! Damn it, did you really cooperate with that devil? No, you are also a devil! If I had known that you were collaborating with Blatche, I would never have anything to do with you. Any contact!" Sebastian cursed.
"Do you think I am willing to cooperate with him? Now because of Blatche, several of my investors are planning to withdraw their capital!" Franklin's voice also became angry, and he continued: "Don't call me again. , I still have a lot of things to deal with here, and our cooperation ends here."
"Are you going to kill the donkey? Franklin, let me tell you, if you make it difficult for me, I will definitely drag you into the water!" Sebastian asked angrily.
"Don't do this with me. You should know very well that you can't protect yourself now. The International Anti-Doping Organization will soon find out that all your athletes have used doping. Then it will be up to you to tell them. Public explanation. You will definitely be ruined earlier than me!"
After Franklin finished speaking, he hung up the phone directly.
…
After ending the call with Sebastian, Franklin was also filled with anger.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door, and Franklin's assistant hurried in.
"Professor, we just received a fax from Hans Pharmaceuticals. Their board of directors decided to temporarily stop sponsoring our laboratory." The assistant said.
"Stop sponsoring! Why? Is it because of that?" Franklin stood up from his chair.
"Yes, it was because of the doping scandal that Hans Pharmaceuticals learned that we have a deep cooperative relationship with the 'Father of Prohormones' Blatche. They do not want to have any relationship with Blatche, even if it is a very indirect relationship. , so their board of directors unanimously voted to suspend sponsorship of us." The assistant said and handed a fax document to Franklin.
Franklin hurriedly took the fax document, read it hastily, and his expression became frustrated.
Bulayche was already notorious, and those biological laboratories did not dare to cooperate with Bulayche blatantly. Even if Bulayche invested in the laboratory, the cooperation between them could only be carried out secretly.
But it is impossible for those well-known laboratories to have only Blatcher as an investor. Scientific research is inherently a huge bottomless pit. Let alone an entire laboratory, even just a scientific research project will have the support of many companies behind it.
Investors invest in science labs to get a return, but no one wants to get into lawsuits. And Blatche is exactly the kind of guy who can do experiments on living people. The laboratories that Blatche invests in may also do illegal activities, which will naturally discourage other investors.
At this time, the thin piece of fax paper made Franklin feel as heavy as a thousand pounds.
The phone rang suddenly, and after ringing many times, Franklin finally reacted and answered the phone.
The receptionist's voice rang from the receiver: "Professor, I just received a call. The caller's name is Davis, who claims to be the attorney of Qianfan Investment Company. He wants to make an appointment to meet with you."
"Qianfan Investment Company is also one of our investors. We have cooperated for many years and the relationship has been very good. Why did we suddenly find a lawyer?" Franklin felt an ominous premonition in his heart and asked. : "Did the other party say why he wanted to meet me?"
"I asked the Davis lawyer, and he said that our laboratory was involved in the doping scandal, which caused a very negative social impact. This violated the original investment contract, so he wants to make an appointment with you. Let’s talk about the issue of liquidated damages sometime.” The receptionist’s voice became weaker and weaker as he talked.
"Liquidated damages! You mean you want us to pay him!" Franklin suddenly felt dizzy and almost fainted on his chair.
Investors withdrawing their capital is indeed a very worrying thing, but in comparison, investors not only withdraw their capital, but also demand compensation for liquidated damages, which is enough to make Franklin feel a deep sense of despair.
Franklin put down the phone, then locked the door and closed the window. He didn't want to hear any noise now. He wanted to be alone.
But contrary to expectations, the phone rang again, still from the receptionist.
"What's wrong? Does anyone still want me to pay liquidated damages?" Franklin asked angrily.
"No, professor, it's the FBI. There are two FBI agents who want to see you." The receptionist said timidly.
"The FBI is indeed here." Franklin slumped in his seat again.
…
In the small bar, Edward Snow and Li Dai were sitting on a small table, drinking happily.
"Looking at you, your wounds have healed. You can drink. Here, I want to toast you." Dai Li picked up the wine glass.
"The wound hasn't healed yet. I still dare not do any large-scale exercise to avoid tearing the wound again. But it's okay to drink some wine. And after drinking, the wound will not hurt so much." Snow As he spoke, he drank all the wine in the glass, and then asked: "How is your lawsuit going?"
"The verdict will be made immediately. Lawyer Wilfrid still defended my innocence. I think the problem should not be big." Li Dai said.
"I'll also tell you good news. Bu Laiqie is finished. This time it's really finished!" Snow said with a smile.
"It's over? What do you mean?" Li Dai asked.
"All the company and personal assets have been frozen. The next step is to seal up, and then to bankruptcy liquidation. No one can save him this time." Snow took another sip of wine, and then continued: "In fact, his company has many After the doping scandal broke out, the bank stopped giving him loans and urged him to repay as soon as possible. Other financing institutions also shunned him, and his capital chain was about to be broken."
"In fact, in the doping scandal more than ten years ago, the situation faced by Bulayche may have been worse than it is today, but at that time Bulayche had several patents in his hands, and those patents became the source of funds for Bulayche." Cows'. And now, those patents have expired, and there is no way to resupply Bulayche, so his funds will naturally be unable to turn around."
"And without sufficient funds, it is impossible for Blatche to hire a top lawyer to litigate him. This is a very important aspect of his demise. If you have money, you can hire a powerful lawyer, which will have a huge impact. If you have money, you can bribe the prison guards, and you can live a happy life even in jail; if you have money, you can bribe the 'gang boss' in prison, and no one will dare to mess with you in prison. Snow shrugged: "If you don't have money, you can only live with your tail between your legs."